Tragic End to Search: Missing Moosic Man Nicholas Terrery Found Dead in Luzerne County
MOOSIC, PA — A heartbreaking turn of events has brought an end to the search for Nicholas Terrery, a 23-year-old man from Moosic, Pennsylvania, who was reported missing on Saturday, July 26, 2025. After several days of intensive searching by authorities and family members, Nicholas was found dead in a wooded area near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Dupont, Luzerne County, on Tuesday, July 29.
The case, which began as a missing person’s investigation in Lackawanna County, has now expanded into a joint probe involving both Luzerne and Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Offices, reflecting the complexity and tragic nature of the discovery.
The Search and Discovery
According to Moosic Borough Police, Nicholas Terrery was last seen at his home in Moosic on the morning of July 26. When he did not return or make contact with his loved ones, his family grew concerned and reported him missing. Police immediately launched a search effort, working with local and county authorities, and reaching out to the public for tips and information regarding his whereabouts.
As days passed, the urgency of the search grew. Community members joined in, spreading flyers and sharing Nicholas’s photo across social media platforms, hoping for a safe return. Sadly, that hope was shattered on Tuesday afternoon, when Luzerne County Detectives were alerted to the presence of a body in a wooded area just off Navy Way Road in Dupont, located on property associated with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
The remains were soon identified as those of Nicholas Terrery.
Ongoing Investigation
In a joint statement released by Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce and Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher, the two offices confirmed that the investigation remains active and that authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding Nicholas’s death.
While officials have not yet released a cause of death or additional details about how Nicholas came to be in that area, they emphasized that no conclusions have been drawn, and that both forensic and investigative efforts are ongoing.
The presence of the body on airport property has raised questions and added a layer of jurisdictional and logistical complexity to the case. However, law enforcement officials remain committed to uncovering the truth and providing answers to Nicholas’s grieving family.
A Community in Mourning
The news of Nicholas’s death has devastated the community of Moosic and surrounding areas. Friends and family describe Nicholas as a bright, kind-hearted young man with a deep love for his family and a promising future ahead of him.
Local residents have begun leaving flowers and candles in front of his family’s home and near the wooded area where he was found. Messages of support and condolences continue to pour in from across the region, many expressing both sorrow and outrage over the tragedy.
Next Steps
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death, and authorities are urging anyone who may have seen Nicholas in the days leading up to his disappearance—or who may have information about his movements—to contact the Moosic Borough Police Department or Luzerne County Detectives.
Investigators say that no detail is too small, and that public cooperation could be crucial in piecing together the final hours of Nicholas’s life.
Remembering Nicholas Terrery
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on honoring Nicholas’s memory and supporting his loved ones through an unimaginable loss. A vigil is reportedly being planned in Moosic later this week, giving the community a chance to come together, grieve, and demand justice for a life cut tragically short.
Nicholas Terrery was only 23 years old.
May he rest in peace, and may his family find comfort in the love and strength of those around them as they search for answers in this painful time.
